Elections: Airport terminals empty as passengers droop journey plans

Passengers have in current days needed to droop their journey plans over concern that there could also be unrest following the displeasure by many Nigerians over the presidential election outcomes.

Our correspondent who visited the Murtala Muhammed Airport Native and Basic Aviation Terminal on Wednesday noticed that only a few passengers had been being processed for journey by one or two airways, with most airline counters additionally empty.

The airport automotive parks had been additionally empty as drivers lamented low patronage.

“It is a powerful enterprise interval for us all. These occasions remind me of the COVID-19 interval the place we had no passenger to hold. Most of our shoppers are politicians however proper now they’re very busy with elections,” Seun Babalola, a taxi driver on the Lagos airport, advised BusinessDay.

In keeping with Babalola, some passengers have additionally suspended their journey plans as a result of they suspected some disgruntled Nigerians would possibly start a riot following the announcement of the election outcomes.

BusinessDay’s investigations present that airways have needed to scale back their flight schedules as they now function much less 50 % flights.

Regardless of the discount of flights, airways now carry lower than 40 % load issue, making them function at a loss.

Kingsley Ezenwa, spokesperson for Dana Air, advised BusinessDay that there have been only a few passengers travelling since Sunday and this was affecting the airline enterprise.

He mentioned: “We now have needed to cushion the consequences of the low patronage by decreasing the variety of flights we function. We observed on every flight, we had between 40 to 30 passengers, which is just too low and never worthwhile for any airline.

Learn additionally: Passengers lament experiences at Lagos airport

“Individuals are scared to return out and Wednesday bookings are worse as a result of that was when the winner of the presidential elections was introduced. Nevertheless, we’re optimistic that within the subsequent few days, normalcy would return and we are going to begin having full flight operations.”

Obi Mbanuzuo, chief business officer of Inexperienced Africa, mentioned all airways felt the impact of the uncertainty surrounding the elections and the dearth of passengers damage airways.

“We do have a schedule to function and have been working our flights totally on time for the advantage of the few who’ve bought tickets. I don’t assume any airline is working at as much as 50 perceng load issue proper now,” Mbanuzuo mentioned.

Olumide Ohunayo, an aviation professional, mentioned the elections crippled business actions throughout the nation, including that many companies had been doing skeletal operations due to the stress within the nation.

“We have to enhance safety. Nigerians are frightened of post-election riots. That is affecting the economic system of the nation. Should you can’t exit and become profitable, it has a multiplier impact; it impacts the economic system of the nation. Airways can not deploy their plane as a result of there are not any passengers to hold,” he mentioned.

“No one is able to go to Abuja now as a result of these you’re going there to see aren’t open.”

Philip Ike, a businessman, advised BusinessDay that he needed to cancel his journey plans to Abuja due to safety issues over the elections.

“I’m not certain it’s protected to journey right now. The roads are even empty, exhibiting persons are nervous that there could also be protests throughout the nation. It’s not a protected time to journey, so I needed to cancel my journey plans,” Ike mentioned.